Headlight control.



0. ONEAL.

HEADLIGHT CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.. 1. IsIa.

Patented Jim. 16,1917.

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HEADLIGHT CONTROL.

APPLICATION man FEB. 7, |915.

192131,12@ n Patented Jan.161917.

3 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, ISIS;

LI 53,1%@ Patented .Ian.16,1917.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Partant-gd J :UL 16 1917 Applicationled February '2, 19l6. Serial No. 76,686.

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in head-lights for automobilesand other vehicles, and in means for controlling the head-lights andturning them in either direction desired.

One object of the invention is to effect improvements in the means forturning or controlling the head-lights, and so that the head-lights canbe turned, by the chauffeur, without the necessity of removing his handfrom the steering wheel.

Another object is to effect improvements in the construction of thebrackets which carry the head-lights. x

Another object is to elfect improvements in the construction of theposts in which the `head-light brackets are mounted.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangementof devices,

hereinafter described and claimed.

lIl() n the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of thefront portion `of an automobile provided with head-lights andcontrolling means therefor constructed and arranged in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail verticalsectional view of one of the head-light supporting posts and brackets'.Fig. 4 is a. detail horizontal sectional view taken on the planeindicated by the line c-a of Fig. 3. Fig.. 5 is a similar view taken outhe plane indicated by the line bof Fig. 3. Fig. 69 is a detailedelevation of the clip, the guide tubes, and springs which hold the guidetubes in normal position. Fig. 7 is a plan of the same with the steeringposts shown in section. Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of one ofthe direction pulleys. Fig. 9 is a detailed elevation of the same.

In accordance with my invention, I pro vide a pair of vertical tubularposts l which are mounted on the side bars of the chassis, near thefront ends thereof, and provided with headlight carrying brackets 2which are mounted in the posts and I also provide operating cords 3 forcontrolling the headlights and turning them in either directionrequired.

For the purpose of this specification, the steering post of theautomobile is indicated at t and the steering wheel at 5.

l clip (5 is secured on the steering post at a point slightly below thewheel and on the ends of the clip'l are a pair ofguide tubes throughwhich the cords 3 extend, each guide tube being provided at its innerend with a downwardly extendingpivot 8 which is mounted in a bearingopening in the-clip. Hencethe guide tubes are adapted to swing. Thecords are provided at their rear ends with buttons 9 which may bereadily grasped by the chauffeur without taking his hand from thesteering wheel and by pulling on the proper button, one of the cordscanbe caused to turn the head-lights as desired. The cords 3 are crossedas at 10 at a point in front of the steering post. Springs 11 areprovided which are attached to the clip and also to the tubular guides,

said springs serving to normally hold the wardly, wheneither of theoperating cordsl is pulled by means of its button.

The cords 3 engage direction pulleys12 which are mounted in casings 13.Each cas? ing has a screw plug 14 at one side which may be screwed in athreaded opening in the base of the inner shield to` secure the pulleyand its casing in place. To prevent the pulleys from rattling, I provideeach of them with a spring 15 which is coiled around the axle 1G of thepulley and bears between the, upper side o f the casing and the uppersideof the pulley.

To secure the posts l, l provide brackets 17, each of which is securedin the channel of the chassis side bar on the inner side thereof andextends inwardly therefrom. Each post has a base 18 screwed to the lowerend thereof and provided with a downwardly tapered stud 19 which passesthrough a correspondingly shaped and non-circular opening in one of thebrackets and is secured by a nut 20 screwed on its lower ends.

Each head-light bracket 2 has a vertical shaft 21 mounted in a bearing22 in the upper end of its post 1 and provided with a diametricallyreduced lower portion 23 which passes through a central opening in thebearing member 24 which has a circular ball race 25 in its lower side. Avertically movable sleeve 26 is arranged on the reduced portion 23 ofthe shaft 4and has a truncated.

conical upper end 27. Bearing balls 28 are arranged in the race 25 andengaged by the cone 27 and the said sleeve 26 is pressed upwardly andkept in close engagement with the bearing balls by a coiled spring 29,the said spring being held by a nut 30 screwed on the lower `portion ofthe shaft and by means of which nut, any desired tension may be impartedto the spring. Washers 31 are interposed between the ends of the springand the annular shoulder, under the conical head 27, and the nut 30. Bythe provision of the ball bearing, the shaft with its lamp bracket isadapted to turn very readily, the spring keeps the ball bearing tightunder all conditions and prevents rattling.

At the upper end of each post 1 is a horizontally arranged casing 32comprising a lower member 33 andan upper member 34 and formed with aslot 35 on its inner side. Each lamp bracket shaft has an arm 36 securedthereto at a point in theca sing and arranged or turning movement withthe shaft, bracket and head-light or lamp, one of the cords 3 beingattached to each arm 36 as shown. 'A coiled spring 37 is arranged oneach shaft 21 to turn the latter in one direction and normally hold thelamp so as to throw its light straight ahead and the arm 35 is normallyheld by the tension of the spring against a stop arm 38 which ispivotally mounted as at 39 in the casing and is normally held by acushioning spring 40, of rubber or' the like, against a stud 4l which isarranged in the casing. When the lamp is turned by the operation of thecord to the fullest extent, the said arm 35 engages a stop cushion 42.Hence, the pivotal movement of the head lights is limited and thecushioned stops prevent jars.

The lamps turn inwardly so that the left hand lamp when turned, lightsthe right hand side of the road and the right hand lamp when turned,lights the left hand side of the road. A Ybrace rod 4f?)` is employedtion of the several parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a head-light control, in combination with head-lights,mounted forturning move i ment, operating cords connected to the headlights, amember for attachment to a steering post, guides for the operating cordspivotally mounted on said member, and springs to hold said guides innormal positien, the operating cords being provided at their rear endswith buttons.

2. ln a device of the class described, a pivot-ally mounted brackethaving a radial arm, a spring to turn the bracket in one direction, anoperating cord attached to the arm to turn the bracket in the reversedirec tion, a stop limiting the movement of said arm in one direction, apivotally mounted stop to limit the movement of said arm in the reverseddirection, a cushion acting against the pivotally mounted stop and astop to limit the rebound ot' said pivotallymounted stop.

3. In a head-light control, in combination with head-lights mounted forturning movement, operating cords attached to the head lights, a memberfor attachment to a steering post, tubular guides through which saidcords extend, said guides having downwardly extending pivots mounted inbearing openings in said member, stops at the ends of the cord to engagethe outer ends of said tubular guides and springs to hold said tubularguides in normal position.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR ONl) AL.

lVitnesses z EDWIN E. lVanRnN, FRANK E. HUs'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C.

Sil

